Rotating transfer tape dispenser/applicator used for dispensing transfer tape onto a weed piece of vinyl as used in the sign industry

ABSTRACT

A tape applicator for use in conjunction with the top of a work surface. The applicator is design to allow the user to apply their choice of several sizes of transfer tape or other material to weeded vinyl.  
     The invention is made up of a base panel, two side panels, and a rotating wheel assembly. The rotating wheel assembly consists of two identically sized wheels containing four dowel rods to support a quantity of different sizes of transfer tape. The rotating wheel assembly rotates, therefore allowing the user to select the desired size of tape to be dispensed without having to change rolls of tape. Weeded vinyl decals come in different widths, therefore requiring a similar width of transfer tape without wasting a size that is larger than is needed.  
     The dispenser is screwed or clamped to a work surface. Tape is loaded, then the user rotates the wheel assembly to select the desired size. A locking pin is placed through the side panel into the wheel to lock it in place. The user then pulls the desired size of tape onto the work surface over the decal and uses a squeegee to smooth the tape onto the decal for a bubble free finished product.  
     What is new in this art is the capability for a single device to hold up to any combination of 120″ of transfer tape at one time on four different 30″ spindles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The subject of this patent application is a rotating transfer tape dispenser/applicator for dispensing multiple width rolls of transfer tape or other material for use with the top of a work surface. The use of devices to dispense transfer tape is well known in the sign industry. Typically, the process used in sign shops is that a cutting machine is used to cut lettering out of rolls of adhesive backed vinyl from a design in a computer. After the letters are cut, the excess vinyl is pulled away, leaving the letters on the backing sheet. It is then necessary to transfer the letters in their pre-spaced format to a substrate. The substrate can be a vehicle door, banner, wood signboard, glass door/window or anything else that letters will stick to. It is necessary to transfer these letters all in their pre-spaced format to the substrate. The method used is by covering the letters with a sheet of transfer tape, then removing the backing and applying the “decal” to the substrate.

[0002] Various manual devices are available on the market to dispense transfer tape for use in sign shops. These devices range from those made “in house” with a simple rod and holder to hold a single roll of tape to those commercially available with two rods. The problem has existed in the industry that because a vinyl graphic may only be 2″ wide, and the roll of transfer on the rod may be 24″ wide, therefore wasting 22″ of transfer tape. It is possible to load the rod with multiple sizes of tape, but that combination only allows a total of 36″ or 72″ of transfer tape. The major problem that exists is that it is sometimes necessary to unload an unwanted width of transfer tape and reload the proper width as to not waste tape or have to apply two widths to cover large graphics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a rotating transfer tape dispensing device that mounts to a table top surface. It is designed to allow application of transfer tape to a sheet of “weeded” vinyl for use in the sign industry. It consists of a rotating assembly that allows any combination up to 120″ of transfer tape to be loaded at any one time. The advantage of this invention is that it becomes unnecessary to change to a different size of tape. By simply rotating the wheel the user can select the size of tape needed.

[0004] In operation, the rotating transfer tape dispenser/applicator is placed on a flat work surface, attached with screws or clamps and loaded with several rolls of tape or other material of assorted widths. Core plugs are supplied for use in reducing the inside diameter of the user-supplied 3″ core rolls to approximately 1″. Assorted rolls of tape or other material of varying widths are loaded onto each of the four dowel rods. The dowel rod is then placed into the open hole in the rotating wheel and then slid into the closed end hole on the other side. The dowel rod is secured in place with a hitch pin. After all rolls are loaded the locking pin is removed and the rotating wheel is rotated until the desired width of tape or other material is located at the bottom front of the applicator. The locking pin is then re-inserted through the side panel and into the rotating wheel to lock it in place. Tape or other material is then pulled from the applicator onto the desired substrate in which application is being made. It is a principal object of this invention to allow the user to apply application tape to a weeded sheet of copy as in that used for vinyl lettering for signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The subject of this patent application is a device for dispensing multiple assorted width rolls of transfer tape for use with the top of a work surface. The rotating transfer tape dispenser/applicator is an assembly made up of two sub-assemblies, namely sub-assembly A and sub-assembly B. Sub-assembly A is made up of four types of parts: namely, a bottom base support, side panels (with metal bushings and small bushings), side panel screws, and a locking pin. Sub-assembly B is made up of seven different types of parts: namely, dowel rods, threaded main shaft, rotating wheels (with small bushings), locking nuts, flange nuts, hitch pins and core plugs.

[0006] The rotating applicator is preferably rectangular shaped and is preferably made of a rigid material such as plastic, wood, or metal. It preferably has a stationary bottom base support with two side panels and a rotating wheel assembly on top. The rotating wheel assembly holds the four dowel rods that are preferably made of wood or metal and the threaded main shaft preferably made of metal. There are hitch pins preferably made of metal in the dowel rods to secure them into place. The locking nuts and flange nuts preferably are made of metal and thread onto the threaded main shaft up against both sides of the rotating wheels. The side panel screws insert through the side panels and into the bottom base support. The metal bushing is in the center hole of each side panel. The core plugs slide over the dowel rods.

[0007] The bottom base support and the side panels are assembled together with side panel screws forming the base. The two rotating wheels are secured onto each end of the threaded main shaft and locked into place with the lock nuts against flange nuts, which are screwed into the rotating wheels so as to form one rigid assembly. With part of the threaded main shaft protruding out of the end on each rotating wheel, the assembly is inserted into the side panels and lock nuts are attached on the outside of the side panels to secure the rotating wheel assembly with small bushings inserted. Four dowel rods are inserted into the rotating wheels to support the rolls of tape or other material. The dowel rods are secured in place on one end by not drilling all the way through the rotating wheel. The other end is drilled all the way through the rotating wheel and secured with a hitch pin to allow the dowel rod to be removed and loaded with rolls of tape or other material using the 3″ core plugs. The rotating wheels and assembly are then rotated to select the width of tape or other material desired and the rotating wheel is locked into place with the locking pin. (20) 3″ core plugs are provided to insert into rolls of tape or other material supplied by the user.

[0008] Now the subject of this patent application may be more generally described as follows: The rotating transfer tape dispenser/applicator is an assembly made up of two sub-assemblies, namely sub-assembly A and sub-assembly B. Sub-assembly A is made up of four main of parts: namely, a means for supporting, a means for holding the means for rotating (which contains a means for resisting wear and a means for guiding), a means for fastening, and a means for locking. Sub-assembly B is made up of seven different types of parts: namely, a supporting medium, a means for pivoting, a means for rotating, a means for tightening, a means for securing the means for rotating, a means for holdings, and a means for adapting.

[0009] The rotating transfer tape dispenser/applicator is preferably rectangular shaped and is preferably made of a rigid material such as plastic, wood, or metal. It preferably has a stationary means for supporting with a means for holding, and a means for rotating the assembly on top. The means for rotating holds both the supporting medium that are preferably made of wood or metal, and the means for pivoting preferably made of metal. There is a means for holding, preferably made of metal, inserted into a hole in the supporting medium to secure them into place. The means for tightening and the means for securing are preferably made of metal and thread onto the means for pivoting and tighten up against both sides of the means for rotating. The means for fastening insert through the means for holding and into the means for supporting. The means for resisting wear is inserted into the center hole of each means for holding. The means for adapting slide over the supporting medium for holding rolls of tape.

[0010] The means for supporting and the means for holding are assembled together with a means for fastening forming the base. The means for rotating are secured onto each end of the means for pivoting and locked into place with the means for tightening against the means for securing, which are screwed into the means for rotating so as to form one rigid assembly. With part of the means for pivoting protruding out of the end on each means for rotating, the assembly is inserted into the means for holding. The means for tightening are attached on the outside of the means for holding to secure the means for rotating assembly with means for guiding inserted. The supporting mediums are inserted into the means for rotating to support the rolls of tape. The supporting mediums are secured in place on one end by not drilling all the way through the means for rotating. The other end is drilled all the way through the means for rotating and secured with a means for holding to allow the supporting medium to be removed and loaded with rolls of tape using the 3″ means for adapting. The means for rotating are then rotated to select the width of tape desired and the means for rotating is locked into place with the means for locking. (20) 3″ means for adapting pieces are provided to insert into rolls of tape supplied by the user. 

1. What I claim as my invention is a table top device that allows the user to rotate and select one of several rolls of tape (up to a total of 120″) without having to remove and reload different sizes or types of tape. This device will save time because it allows the user to load a total of 120″ of transfer tape at once, therefore making it unnecessary to keep switching rolls. The device will save money by conserving tape as it allows the operator to use the proper size for the job and avoids the added expense of using a size wider than is needed for the graphic being taped. 